Question

Money is the root of all evil and new study claims there may be some truth behind the saying. Scientists at the University of California. Berkeley, US，announced on February 27 that rich people are more likely to do unethical (不道德的)things, such as lie or cheat，than poorer people.

The scientists did a series of eight experiments. They published their findings online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS，《美國國家科學院院刊》).

They carried out the first two experiments from the sidewalk near Berkeley. They noted that drivers of newer and more expensive cars were more likely to cut off other cars and pedestrians at crosswalks. Nearly 45 percent of people driving expensive cars ignored a pedestrian compared with only 30 percent of people driving more modest (不豪華的)cars.

In another experiment，a group of college students was asked if they would do unethical things in various everyday situations. Examples included taking printer paper from work and not telling a salesperson when he or she gave back more change. Students from higher-class families were more likely to act dishonestly.

According to the scientists，rich people often think money can get them out of trouble. This makes them less afraid to take risks. It also means they care less about other people’s feelings.

Finally，it simply makes them greedier. “Higher wealth status seems to make you want even more，and that increased want leads you to bend the rules or break the rules to serve your self-interest，’’said Paul Piif, lead scientist of the study.

Piff pointed out that the findings don’t mean that all rich people are untrustworthy(不能信賴的)or all poor people honest. He said the experiments were to show how people living in different social situations express their instincts and values in different ways.

1.By saying “money is the root of all evil”，the author wants to___________.

A. draw readers’ attention to the research

B. link wealth with bad behavior

C. show how the saying proves the findings

D. defend rich people who do unethical things

2.Which of the following is TRUE about the experiments the scientists did，according to the scientist quoted?

A. Most wealthy people are not trustworthy.

B. The findings were not persuasive enough and the scientists will do further experiments.

C. Drivers of more expensive cars are more likely to break traffic rules.

D. Students from poorer families are not as honest as students from richer families.

3.Why did the scientists do the experiments?

A. To show how social status affects people's ethics.

B. To show people’s instincts and values in different ways.

C. To test whether the saying “money is the root of all evil” is true.

D. To show the difference between higher-class people and lower-class people.

4.What does the article really want to show us?

A. Money is the root of all evil.

B. The rich are more likely to act badly.

C. The saying is reasonable.

D. All rich people are untrustworthy.

Answer 1